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Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Mazda are reportedly reducing their European commitments in view of the unstable and weakening economic conditions on the continent.

Ford plans to reduce its investment in manufacturing by around 8% through more standardisation of its manufacturing processes worldwide.

The recently expanded BMW-Brilliance car making joint venture will expand engine manufacturing in Shenyang, Liaoning province.

2013 Subaru BRZ - Going ProSolo

We find the cheapest and safest way to race a brand new car.

The 2013 Subaru BRZ is an excellent introduction to rear-wheel drive performance cars. Affordable, responsive, and easy to drive quickly, the BRZ will certainly find buyers who want to race their cars, but don't have the stomach to hit a road course until the monthly payments stop. What's a wannabe racer with a limited budget to do? Allow us to introduce you to Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo racing.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Subaru BRZ - Four Seasons Update - August 2012

Photo Gallery: 2013 Subaru BRZ - Four Seasons Update - August 2012

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BMW is less than a year away from officially revealing the fifth generation of the menacing M3, the first to receive turbocharged six-cylinder power.

Former head of Europe's automotive supplier body, CLEPA, Lars Holmqvist, says Chinese manufacturer, Youngman, is also considering suing General Motors as the furore surrounding the US automaker's exit from Saab gathers pace.

Britain's biggest car dealer, Pendragon, says profit rose to 23.6 million pounds ($36.9 million) from 18.2 million pounds a year earlier, helped by the strong performance at its new- and used-vehicle segments.

BMW South Africa plans to add China to the export destinations for its locally-built 3 series models later this year.

News 10 Aug, 2012

Nissan confirms string of new Nismo performance models - and extreme RS versions are planned, too

Pictures 10 Aug, 2012

News 8 Aug, 2012

Five-door hatch version of the Skoda Rapid will debut next year, and is set to rival the VW Golf

Pictures 8 Aug, 2012

London's 300,000 daily black cab users will have a new taxi to ride in starting next year after Nissan unveiled its vision for the capital's black cab of the future.

The EU is examining a request by France to require South Korea to give advanced warning of planned car exports to the EU, the first step toward the possible re-introduction of duties a year after a free-trade deal came into effect.

Twenty years after revealing plans to build its first North American assembly plant in the United States, BMW is close to a decision to add a second one -- in Mexico.

Adapted from press release

Organizers of the Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial released the brand for their event, the Formula One race will take place on the shores of the Hudson River in New Jersey in June, 2013.

After reviewing dozens of renderings, the Grand Prix of America group chose a blue-and-red logo that features a stylized Statue of Liberty crown over a checkered-flag helmet, anchored by a single star.

The logo was created by Racer Media and Marketing, a media and design agency directed by President Paul Pfanner.

Although the Grand Prix of America staff considered a number of concepts, the Statue of Liberty was key to everyone. The iconic monument, which represents freedom and international friendship, graces the Hudson River harbor between New York and New Jersey.

Pfanner said it was a fitting symbol for the race, which will run on a 3.2-mile road course in the towns of Weehawken and West New York, N.J., with the dramatic New York skyline as the backdrop.

From GMM

Martin Whitmarsh, a former boss of the famous Finn some years ago, has admitted he has been impressed by Kimi Raikkonen in 2012.

The pair worked together between 2002 and 2006, when the now 32-year-old won nine grands prix for McLaren.

Raikkonen switched to Ferrari in 2007, winning nine more races and the title, but after 2009 he quit formula one to go rallying and Nascar racing.

He has returned to F1 with Lotus this year, and despite not yet adding to his tally of career wins, the 'Iceman' is tipped as a dark horse for the 2012 championship.

When asked about Raikkonen, McLaren team boss Whitmarsh told Brazil's Totalrace: "He is very talented. I think he is one of the fastest men on the planet."

"People tend to underestimate Kimi, because of how little he talks. But he is a very intelligent and impressive driver. The Lotus is a good car and so, put together, they're a real threat," said Whitmarsh.

"I'm sure you've noticed that Kimi does not make many mistakes; he always does a good job. So I'm not surprised and I think he has the ability to improve even more throughout the season," he added.

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) ahead of Lewis Hamilton (McLaren). (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

Raikkonen's former McLaren stablemate, Pedro de la Rosa, told Spain's El Confidencial that Raikkonen is "definitely one of the best drivers I've ever seen".

And at the wheel of the impressive black and gold E20, it looks like a winning combination.

"Well, it hasn't won any races, so it's not a winner," Raikkonen insisted. "We are still pretty happy but of course you want to do better. We'll see what we can do in the second part (of the season)."

Lotus' technical boss James Allison thinks a shot at the title is not out of the question.

"Why not?" he told the British broadcaster Sky. "There are an awful lot of points for coming first and an awful lot of races left. The lead is miniscule compared to the points available."

Adapted from press release

Kahnawake, Quebec racer Derek White, a former rookie of the year in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, has signed with SR2 Motorsports to drive the No. 24 Boutique Fashion Broker Chevrolet in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Nationwide race in Montreal.

In advance of the Montreal race, White has also agreed to work with the SR2 Motorsports this weekend at Watkins Glen International Raceway and attempt to qualify for the Zippo 200 in the No. 00 Boutique Fashion Broker Chevrolet.

Derek White, Chevrolet. (Photo: NASCAR)

“We all agreed it would be a good idea to get to know the team, work together for a weekend and get to know each other” said White. “We're not locked in so hopefully we get up to speed quickly and qualify for the race” he added.

This past weekend White competed in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres. 

From GMM

Ping-pong or the Olympics?

It's a tough choice for formula one drivers as they contemplate how to spend their rare free time during the August break.

Red Bull's Mark Webber has headed to the real Olympics, watching his countryman James Magnussen grapple with the pain of losing Gold in a swimming race he was hotly tipped to win.

"It's called the journey," said Australian Webber. "That's the amazing thing about sport."

Felipe Massa, having returned to his native Sao Paulo, has posted on Twitter photos of his downtime on the saddle of a four-wheeled motorcycle, and playing mini table-tennis with his brother Eduoardo.

Massa's brothers in action. (Photo: Felipe Massa Twitter)

Champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button are also enjoying sport of a different flavour.

2009 title winner Button, and his model girlfriend Jessica Michibata, headed to the Philippines for an Ironman competition.

"Triathlons aren't ever going to make me money," the McLaren driver told the Daily Mail. "But whenever I have any time off it doesn't take me long before I am pining to get back out on one."

2012 championship leader Alonso, meanwhile, won a 20 kilometre cycling time trial -- at a speed of almost 45 kilometres per hour.

Lewis Hamilton is holidaying in Grenada, the country of his father Anthony's heritage, while Lotus' Romain Grosjean is enjoying a honeymoon with his new wife Marion Jolles, a French television presenter well known in the F1 paddock.

Seven time world champion Michael Schumacher is just enjoying some downtime with his young family.

"I'm more focused on living a quiet and private life, so I would rather avoid lots of people," he said.

We read in the news that McLaren may follow Ferrari's lead in opting for innovative pull-rod front and rear suspension for its 2013 Formula 1 car. But what is the main difference between the two?

The pull-rod suspension has been introduced in Formula 1 eleven years ago when Gabriele Tredozi designed the 2001 Minardi.

This season, the Ferrari F2012 also uses this system while all other teams still rely on the traditional push-rod mechanism.

Illustration: Craig Scarborough

In very simple words, a push-rod uses a carbon- fibre rod to push and activate the rocker (that acts like the spring and damper) . The pull-rod is the opposite as the rod pulls on the rocker.

With the pull-rod layout the rockers are positioned lower in the chassis. According to Ferrari technical director Pat Fry, this set-up is a little lighter and has a slightly lower centre of gravity.

Comparison between the 2010 Ferrari 150 on the left with the traditional push-rods and the current F2012 on the right with the pull-rods.

Also, in the case of the F2012 the pull-rod link is angled almost horizontally across the front suspension, which may help aerodynamically.

In his technical blog, Craig Scarborough explains that just as with the wishbones, the profile of the rod can be subtly altered within the rules to help control the wake from the wing and improve the airflow over the rear of the car.

He adds that despite appearances the pull-rod is as effective in moving the rocker for a given wheel travel as a pushrod. The important factor is the angle between the rod and the wishbone it is connected to, rather than the rods angle to the chassis.